Brown: “He’s a nice, controlled, level-headed kind of lad"

Boss Phil Brown is delighted to be reunited with ‘dependable’ Michael Turner again.

The 33-year-old centre back worked under Brown at Hull City and has teamed up with him again at Roots Hall after signing a one year deal with the option of a second.

And Brown says Turner’s experience will be a key factor in their prospects this season.

“Michael and I worked together in my most successful period as a manager and that was one of the reasons why [I brought him in],” said Brown.

“He’s a really down to earth, solid, dependable, reliable character and you can’t have enough of them around. People that you can trust on and off the field of play

“He doesn’t really go off the map in terms of his emotions. When things are going wrong it isn’t the end of the world, when things are going right it isn’t the end of the world.

“He’s a nice, controlled, level-headed kind of lad and he’s a solid character.

“These are great words to attach to a centre half or a defender.”

Brown was encouraged by what he saw in the former Sunderland and Norwich man when away in Spain last week.

“He had an injury last season that kept him out for a while hence the reason why Michael said I’ll come to Spain no problem.

“The training wasn’t easy and it was one of them where, when we got back, he didn’t have to play in them games but we wanted to. He wanted to play in the game against Partick Thistle and at Ipswich today. He just showed nothing but first class commitment.”

Turner becomes the third arrival this summer, and the Blues Manager is delighted to have time to work with them before the season starts.

“Being able to work with my team before we get on the field on Saturday 5th August is a vital ingredient to any kind of decent season we’re going to have.

“I would like to have my team in place, if truth be known, before the Ebbsfleet, Brighton and Cambridge games.

“Being able to work with them is always a key factor for me on the training ground.”